Toby Gerhart can't wait to prove himself as "the next good running back" in the position's proud lineage with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And while Jags wide receiver Cecil Shorts says it's "weird" no longer having former all-pro Maurice Jones-Drew around as the face of the franchise, he can see from Gerhart's "smooth, powerful running" why Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley gave Adrian Peterson's former backup with the Minnesota Vikings a three-year, $10.5 million deal in March.

"Gus comes from the Seattle Seahawks' model of playing good defense, relying on the run game where Marshawn Lynch was their 'Beast Mode' out there. Hopefully, I'll be the 'Beast Mode' down here for the Jaguars," Gerhart told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. "I want to be a guy who helps turn this program around with a physical, punishing offense.

"There's definitely pressure because Maurice was the guy here the last eight years. The face of the Jaguars always seemed to be a running back dating from Fred Taylor to Maurice.